Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 25

Devanagari script

ओंऊर्ध्वकेशा विरू पाक्षा नित्यं ये घोररूपिणः । रक्तनेत्राश्च पिंगाक्षाः क्षेत्रपालान्नमामि तान्

Transliteration

oṃūrdhvakeśā virū pākṣā nityaṃ ye ghorarūpiṇaḥ | raktanetrāśca piṃgākṣāḥ kṣetrapālānnamāmi tān

Translation

ଓଁ। ଯାହାଙ୍କ କେଶ ଉର୍ଦ୍ଧ୍ୱକୁ ଉଠିଥାଏ, ଯାହାଙ୍କ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ବିକଟ ଓ ଭୟଙ୍କର, ଯେମାନେ ନିତ୍ୟ ଘୋରରୂପୀ—ସେହି ରକ୍ତନେତ୍ର ଓ ପିଙ୍ଗାକ୍ଷ କ୍ଷେତ୍ରପାଳମାନଙ୍କୁ ମୁଁ ପ୍ରଣାମ କରେ।

Word by Word

• oṃ: Oṃ
• oṃ: Mantra (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: oṃ (ॐ)
• Form: मन्त्र-प्रणव; अव्यय

• ūrdhvakeśāḥ: with hair standing upright
• ūrdhvakeśāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūrdhva + keśa (ऊर्ध्व + केश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (kṣetrapālāḥ); समासः—कर्मधारय (‘ऊर्ध्वाः केशाः येषाम्’/‘upright-haired’)

• virūpākṣāḥ: having strange/deformed eyes
• virūpākṣāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: virūpa + akṣa (विरूप + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (‘विरूपे अक्षिणी येषाम्’ = having deformed/strange eyes)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Adverbial (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nityam (नित्यम्)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• ye: who
• ye: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक सर्वनाम

• ghorarūpiṇaḥ: of terrifying form
• ghorarūpiṇaḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora + rūpin (घोर + रूपिन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय (‘घोरं रूपं येषाम्/घोररूपिणः’)

• raktanetrāḥ: having red eyes
• raktanetrāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta + netra (रक्त + नेत्र)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (‘रक्ते नेत्रे येषाम्’ = having red eyes)

• ca: and
• ca: Connector
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (च)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• piṃgākṣāḥ: having tawny eyes
• piṃgākṣāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: piṃga + akṣa (पिङ्ग + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (‘पिङ्गे अक्षिणी येषाम्’ = having tawny/brown eyes)

• kṣetrapālān: the guardians of the sacred place
• kṣetrapālān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetrapāla (क्षेत्रपाल)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षेत्रस्य पालाः)

• namāmi: I bow to
• namāmi: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (नम्)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

The hymn-reciter/devotee (as instructed by Sūta)

Tirtha Mahatmya

Type: kshetra

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A hymn-chanting devotee faces a row of fierce Kṣetrapālas: hair bristling upward, terrifying forms, red and tawny eyes, standing guard with weapons and garlands, yet protective stance.

Characters & Entities

• Kṣetrapālas

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

The fierce forms of guardians symbolize protective power; reverent salutations transform fear into refuge under dharmic protection.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse is a general stuti of Kṣetrapālas, applicable to sacred places broadly rather than one named tīrtha.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Recitation of a stuti (praise-hymn) as part of Kṣetrapāla worship.